The Schewzigon Pagoda, Bagan. An old woman smokies a cheroot near a young devotee and the building housing the 27 official spirits (or nats). A Burmese king, who wished to elevate Buddhism above the local animist cults, had images of all the local spirits brought to this pagoda. Emphasizing that they worshipped the Buddha, he tried to make clear their subservient position.

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Photograph November 2000 by George P. Landow
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